Vehicle Description
Handsome, well-restored Series 128 business coupe. 12-volt
electrical system, turn signals added for touring safety. Strong
runner, easy to handle, cruises at 45-50 MPH. A great alternative
to the usual Model A!Thanks to a fairly high-quality restoration a
few years ago, this handsome Dodge Brothers coupe has an elegant
look and broad shoulders that suggest durability and style.
Refinished in correct Gendarme Blue with black fenders, it looks
period appropriate, a look that's reinforced by details like the
wood-spoke wheels, windshield visor, and upright grille. There's a
nice shine to the paint, which is probably better than anything
they could deliver in 1927, and for a wood-framed vehicle it fits
together remarkably well. The doors swing closed easily and make a
great kerCHUNK sound and the coupe body style is ideal for touring.
For ease of maintenance, the bright trim is now chrome instead of
nickel and experts will spot the 1928 Model A taillight, but those
are small deviations from stock and this isn't intended to be a
show car. You will also note aftermarket turn signals have been
neatly installed on the front bumper and inside the rear spare tire
bracket, adding safety on the road.The interior is upholstered in
black leatherette, which is not quite how this car would have been
delivered new, but it's a durable, low-maintenance choice for a car
that's going to be driven. Simple door panels were created to
match, including map pockets, and there's a lovely wool headliner
overhead. The big wooden steering wheel looks fantastic and makes
it surprisingly easy to wheel this Dodge around town, where it's
quick steering and torquey engine make it fun to drive. Factory
gauges cover the basics of speed, oil pressure, and generator
output, and someone has added an hour meter to the left of the
steering wheel along with the toggle switch for the turn signals.
The car has been converted to a 12-volt electrical system so the
headlight switches on the steering wheel hub are disabled, replaced
by a subtle period-looking switch on the side of the column. This
is strictly a 2-passenger vehicle, as the business coupe offers a
large trunk in place of a rumble seat, and that's why this is a
great tour car: lots of space for gear. Dodge's 212 cubic inch
inline-4 evolved quickly in the mid-20s, and it was rated at 44
horsepower when this car was built. This one appears to have been
rebuilt during the restoration and runs superbly, starting easily
with 12 volts running through the starter and ignition system and
getting fuel using an electric fuel pump instead of a vacuum tank
(which is still in place to keep the engine bay looking correct).
You will note that the original generator is gone, replaced by a
custom jack shaft that still powers the original water pump, and a
modern 12-volt alternator was mounted on the driver's side. That
12-volt alternator also allows the use of a big electric fan on the
radiator, so this Dodge runs cool and is almost immune to warm
weather issues and as I mentioned the starter spins it over with
vigor. We're usually purists, but we can't argue with how well this
handsome Dodge works. It start easily, idles nicely, and runs down
the road quite well.The Dodge rides notably better than a Model T
or Model A and don't be afraid of the rear-only brakes, as they're
quite effective for the car's weight and performance. The 3-speed
manual transmission shifts easily and you'll get the hang of it
quickly with a little practice, and the 3.76 gears in back mean
it's pretty comfortable at 45-50 MPH. A new exhaust system gives it
a nice 4-cylinder grumble that quiets down at speed and we really
can't complain about any of this car's behavior on the road-it just
works! Handsome wood-spoke wheels were surely refinished during the
restoration and now wear flashy new 4.75/5.00-19 whitewall
tires.Extras include a factory mechanic's instruction manual, hub
wrench and crank, plus some spare parts.This is a great entry-level
hobby car for the guy who wants a taste of the '20s. With great
road manners, durable hardware, and strong parts and club support,
you get a car that is easy to love and makes sense for first-timers
and experienced hobbyists alike. And if you're a Mopar fan, this is
where it all started. Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends
and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in
our inventory prior to purchase.